Former Pakistani ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, has clarified misconceptions about American influence on Pakistan’s policies, emphasizing that the US does not make decisions based on social media or phone calls from officials.
Speaking to a local news channel on Wednesday, Haqqani expressed his personal hope for the release of PTI founder Imran Khan but highlighted that statements from US representatives on human rights issues rarely lead to action. “People wrongly believe that a phone call from US officials can solve everything. This is not how policies or decisions work,” he stated.
Recalling his time as ambassador during Yousaf Raza Gillani’s tenure as prime minister, Haqqani mentioned that despite holding discussions with senior US officials about Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case, the US firmly declined to pursue her release.
Haqqani’s remarks align with statements from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who recently dismissed claims of US pressure regarding Imran Khan’s detention. “The US is not influencing Pakistan on this matter. Relations between states are far more complex and go beyond social media chatter,” Asif said.
